WGU Chancellor Kimberly Estep surprised Wright at work with a $10,000 scholarship that will cover nearly all of the costs of his master’s degree in business administration.

Wright was one of more than 450 people across the state who applied for the scholarship, and he was one of six people to receive the scholarship this year.

“Just being selected over the number of applicants says a lot, (that) someone believes I deserve that over someone else,” Wright said.

Wright, who has served at JPD for almost eight years, said he and his wife agreed now was the best time to pursue his master’s before his daughter was old enough to participate in extra-circular activities.

“Procrastination is not one of my strong suits,” Wright said on balancing work and school. “I don’t like wasting time doing things. I like to get things done as soon as possible — that way I have my personal time at the end of the day. Balancing it is very difficult, but it’s doable.”

Estep said WGU is trying to remove the financial barriers many adults face while contemplating returning to school through awarding these scholarships.

Estep added that since this week is National Police Week, it made a great time to surprise Wright with the scholarship.

“We thought it was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate with the whole precinct,” Estep said. “To thank them for their service and to celebrate this particular award with Officer Wright.”

WGU Tennessee is a nonprofit, online university established by Gov. Bill Haslam in 2013 as part of the Drive to 55 initiative, the goal of having 55 percent of Tennesseans equipped with a college degree or certificate by the year 2025.